President Bush reiterated his support for immigration reform most recently during a White House press conference (see below). The first challenge to President Bush's immigration reform "willing guest worker" vision will happen next week when he faces the REAL ID anti-immigration bill introduced by Rep. Sensenbrenner. Portions of the House Republicans' anti-immigration provisions which nearly derailed the 9/11 Intelligence Reform bill have re-surfaced, including: narrowing of asylum standards, increasing border controls along the US-Mexico border, and adoption of a defacto national ID card. It is doubtful that this legislation will have a realistic chance at enactment because even if the 218 votes necessary to pass in the House can be found, chances are slim that it will survive in (any form) in the Senate. The House Republican leadership, it appears, is out of step with existential reality and legislative reality. Next week's State of the Union address before Congress will likely provide more details of President Bush's immigration reform plan. Stay tuned to Immigration Daily.

We welcome readers to share their opinion and ideas with us by writing to editor@ilw.com.